Feel the Burn Even It's Cold Outside

The flickering fluorescent bulbs overhead have sapped whatever energy the 5 p.m. sunset has not. All the doors and windows are shut tight, and crawling under the covers with a bag of chips seems like the most appealing way to pass the time.

But take heart; there is hope beyond those frosted windowpanes. The fact that a winter chill has snuck into the air doesn't have to mean that the treadmill is the only way to stay active.

According to Ellen Coleman, the Regional Aerobics Director at the Buffalo Athletic Club for Women on French Road in Lancaster, there are plenty of outdoor options, each one guaranteed to get the heart pumping.

When the snow falls, activity options actually increase, Coleman said. Cross-country skiing, when done for up to a few hours, is an extremely effective way to exercise.

"It works the upper and lower body together," she said.

For added benefits, she suggests skiing uphill, which can burn a whopping 1161 calories per hour, according to www.caloriecontrol.org.

Snow shoeing, which involves strapping large shoes that resemble tennis rackets to the feet, is another under-the-radar activity. The uniqueness factor will keep participants from getting bored, while the strenuous action of trudging atop the snow burns more than 550 calories per hour.

Even an old-fashioned brisk walk is enough to stay active, and it is a great way to take in some beautiful autumn or winter scenery, Coleman said. Indeed, students might not realize the healthful benefits of their normal winter activities. Coleman said many forms of exercise disguise themselves as play.

Playing ice hockey can burn 468 calories per hour; snowmobiling - that's right, sitting in a snowmobile - can burn 246 calories per hour; while Coleman said ice-skating is "great for legs and cardio."

Even building a snowman, playing snow tag or having a snowball war can yield cardio benefits if enough effort is exerted.

"Something to raise the heart rate a bit and get the blood flowing," Coleman said.

For those who have relocated to UB from warmer climates, or for natives who have never taken full advantage of the outdoors in the colder months, several groups on campus offer activities to get them started.

The Outdoor Athletic Club offers a multitude of trips and activities, including cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, hiking, winter backpacking, mountaineering, and ice climbing. They cater to all fitness levels, and express that prior experience is not necessary.

"In the winter time, there is still a lot to do," club President David Knox said. "We have something going on at least once a week."

The costs of activities vary, but usually do not exceed $20 for day trips, and there is no membership fee. While equipment rentals cost extra, the club has some things available for members to use.

Knox said they try to keep activities as inexpensive as possible, if not free, so that people can stay active.

"We're there as an alternative to staying on campus for the weekend and not doing anything," said Knox.

There are a few other groups that offer some alternatives to curling up with the remote control during the colder months. UB Green, Earth Spirit, Buffalo Hiking Club, The Adirondack Mountain Club and Niagara Frontier Sierra Club have established winter activities rosters designed to keep participants outdoors and healthy.